Part-time job, is it worth it?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Part-time job, is it worth it?
11
Sun, 02-12-2006 - 5:59pm

Once again I'm here to beg everyone's opinions and thoughts on a new possibility for my family. We're really at a crossroads, where we're considering many different paths, and the one thing that we keep butting up against is our debt--if only it were paid off!

So, the company that has asked me to come work full-time, I will probably not accept the offer. But I am considering making a counter-proposal for a half-time work-from-home position. I think I could probably negotiate four days a week from home, one from their office (the kids would stay with a neighbor). They had offered me $40k for the full-time position, so I'm not sure whether to ask a little more or a little less than half that for half time (any thoughts on the matter--they wouldn't have to worry about benefits, so perhaps they could give me higher cash compensation--they are pretty desperate to have me come work there--but then halftime isn't their first choice--working from home is a nice benefit in itself--??).

At any rate, it would come out to about $1000 a month net after taxes, charity, etc., etc. Probably more than that, but I'm estimating low for the sake of deciding whether it's worth it.

With that money, we would pay the debt off, including my car, by February 2007 (presuming I start work in March 2006). That is ten months sooner than otherwise (cutting payoff time almost in half).

Here are the possible down sides: Less time for gardening, housekeeping, etc. I would have to keep to a very rigid schedule--probably getting up in the morning for breakfast, cleaning, stuff with kids, then get them set up with an independent activity. Work from 9 to 11. Then break for lunch with the kids, then an activity--like gardening, or exploring the nearby woods. Then I would work from either 1 to 3 or 2 to 4 (hopefully, younger ds would sleep through most or part of this; ds #1 would probably watch movies, alas). After that, fix dinner, and hang out with the kids. In summer we could go outdoors again in the evening.

On days when I would work in the office, I would probably work something like 9 to 1 while the kids hung out at a neighbor's. Also, older ds may be in school starting this Fall (he's five--we were planning to homeschool, but he wants to go to school, and there are several attractive options around here--in fact, one of the things we really want to have the debt paid off for, is so we can afford private school if we decide to go that route.)

The job would be fun and challenging, but it is not where I see my ultimate path going. Still, it would hone my skills and introduce me to a lot of people and businesses. And I like the people I'd be working with.

But is it worth taking 20 hours away from my kids, and tightening my schedule like that?

What do you think? The routine might actually be better for the kids (I'm terrible about changing my mind, changing the schedule, deciding what to do at the last minute, etc., so they don't get much structure in their day at present, and I know they prefer a little bit of structure). But 20 hours might be a bit much. Anything less than that, though, and I'm not sure it would be enough money to really make a big dent in our debt very quickly. I don't know.

I'm listening for clarity. And one place I'm listening is right here! Thanks!!

Heather

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2004
Mon, 02-13-2006 - 4:04pm

I don't know if it helps, but it's important to factor in the amount of energy you'll have after working the part time job. I have two jobs right now, and it's really draining. I find that I don't want to do much beside sleep during my time off. I don't have a family, but I'd expect that your children might be a little more demanding of your attention because they see you less. Also it's important to factor in the little "surcharges" of working a part-time job (like, are you spending more on groceries because you have less time to cook? How much are parking, gas costs going to add?)

Finally I think it's helpful to have an "end-on date" for the additional income. You don't want to find yourself tethered to this job because you have grown to depend on the income.

Pages